Tips for apartment living across the nation

You just discovered that your new apartment building has an accessible rooftop, just in time for the summer. You may live in an urban jungle, but that should not prevent you from enjoying the finest outdoor garden party. Surround yourself in a shady green oasis, and break out the nice table linens; you can host a rooftop deck or garden party that will make your yard-mowing suburban friends wish they had rented an apartment in the city.

Image: Jawcey (Flickr)

Get permission from the landlord.

First, you need to find out if you are allowed to host parties on the roof of your apartment building. There may be some rules about how many people can access the roof, what the roof can be used for or reserving the roof during busy times of year. While you’re getting permission from your landlord, see if your apartment building neighbors want to help put together a big deck party. It would be a great way to get to know them and all their friends.

Make sure you have enough furniture for entertaining.

If your rooftop deck is not already equipped with patio furniture or lounge chairs, it’s time to ask your neighbors to get some tables and seating together. If every outdoor-loving, sociable tenant contributes at least one piece of furniture, you should have enough space for people to sit. Maybe the landlord will let you leave the furniture on the rooftop for future events. It’s best to keep it simple, so stick with inexpensive plastic furniture or folding chairs. If you plan on hosting a fancy affair, you can always dress up the patio furniture with tablecloths (or white sheets) and chair covers with ribbon.

Check for electrical outlets and a water connection.

If you want to play music or need to have access to water for your outdoor rooftop bar, it is important to make sure that you have the essentials ahead of time. Electrical outlets are not a given on a rooftop, and neither is a water supply. Look for this stuff ahead of time so you can make a plan for running extension cords from nearby apartments or stocking up on canned or bottled drinks with ice-filled coolers.

Prepare for the weather.

The weeks leading up to this fabulous rooftop party have been filled with warm, sunny days. However, be prepared for Murphy’s Law. Rain is always a possibility, and so is unbearable, sweltering heat (you are on a rooftop, after all). It’s a good idea to have a waterproof tent or canopy set up in addition to a few strong electric fans. The temperature on the top of a roof tends to be more extreme either way. Hot, stagnant days of summer are amplified on a tar-filled roof. Contrarily, rainy wind does not have building walls to buffer the blow, so make sure that the gazebo tent is secure and does not blow off the rooftop.

Provide trash cans and recycling bins.

Not providing adequate and proper waste management is a common mistake among amateur party hosts. Be sure that people do not have to ask you, “Where should I dump this beer bottle?” Also, find out what the smoking rules are beforehand. Chances are strong that smoking will be prohibited if you are on the roof of a public apartment building. Be sure to let guests know, and post signs to reinforce this rule.

Rooftop deck parties are the perfect venue for urban apartment dwellers to enjoy the outdoors. By adding outdoorsy details such as large potted plants and flowers, your guests will have the best of both worlds –a rooftop garden party amidst an awesome view of the city’s lit skyscape.

April Lentini writes for Apartment Guide in San Jose.

Posted via web from Apartment Living

Austin is known as the “Tex-Mex capital” of the United States, so if you happen to live there, you are in an ideal location to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. This year, Cinco de Mayo falls on a Wednesday. “Hump day” is the ideal day of the week for an after-hour cocktail. Here are just a few places in Austin that will be toasting Mexican culture on or around May 5 with drink specials, tasty food and other Mexican-themed goodies.

Image: Thetruthabout (flickr)

La Condesa
400 W 2nd St
Austin, TX 78701

Make sure you make a reservation on May 5. This hip, modern Mexican restaurant is popular on any night of the week, but Cinco de Mayo is especially busy. Conveniently located downtown, La Condesa offers a modern, eclectic atmosphere with contemporary Mexican dishes inspired by the hip, bohemian Condesa neighborhood of Mexico City. This is a good place to go if you are in the mood for posh dinner on Cinco de Mayo.

El Chile Café Y Cantina
1809 Manor Rd
Austin, TX 78722

Get there early to get a seat on the patio. El Chile Café Y Cantina serves up Tex-Mex food with rich, decadent sauces. Try the Oaxacan red mole that Critics rave about on El Chile’s roasted pork enchiladas. The smokey salsa is so good, they sell it by the jar. Happy hour is from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. You can get half price appetizers and $1 off all drinks.

El Taquito
1713 E Riverside Dr
Austin, TX 78741

No alcohol is served here, but that may not matter if you are in the mood for a good greasy spoon place to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. If that is the case, head down to El Taquito for some rather authentic greasy Mexican food. Beware, though, that this place caters to those who like the real deal – the kind of food you might find on the streets of Mexico City. There is no orange cheese here, and the tacos are made from corn tortillas – not flour or wheat. Ask for a jarisco drink or have a Mexican coke.

Fonda San Miguel
2330 W North Loop Blvd
Austin, TX 78756

On the classy end of Mexican restaurants in Austin, perhaps Fonda San Miguel takes the cake. The heavy doors and elaborate paintings on the wall will make you feel like you’ve been invited to a wealthy drug lord’s estate for dinner. Fonda San Miguel is a great place to impress a date for a Cinco de Mayo dinner. The hacienda style building is surrounded by great landscaping, mood lighting in the trees and you are greeted by valets as you pull up. The menu and drink selection are equally impressive. Make sure you make reservations.

Curra’s Grill
614 E Oltorf St
Austin, TX 78704

Curra’s Grill is a relaxed environment to grab some really good food and reasonably priced drinks. This place is very popular among locals, but it also has gained respect and notoriety in several restaurant reviews. It was voted “Best Interior Mexican Food” by the Austin Chronicle and “One of the Best Mexican Restaurants in Texas” by the Texas Monthly. Their hot sauce alone was voted “Best Red Sauce” in the 1998 Austin Hot Sauce Contest. Get there early to get one of the coveted patio seats.

April Lentini writes for Apartment Guide in Austin

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May 5^th falls on a Wednesday this year. While “hump day” may not be ideal for most people to throw a massive Cinco de Mayo party, it is the perfect day of the week to relax and invite some friends over for Mexican-themed cocktails, food and fun after work. When you are busy, it is easy to forget about this festive holiday that is right around the corner. So be prepared when somebody says, “Hey, what are you doing for Cinco de Mayo tonight?”

Image: Cillian Storm (Flickr)

Keep in mind that nine-to-fivers need to get an early jump on middle of-the-work-week festivities. Do not wait until 9 p.m. to get your Cinco de Mayo party going. If you are hosting an event, make sure you include food so people will not have to squeeze in time for dinner.

Host a Taco Night

Taco nights are so easy and versatile; it is hard not to please everyone. Just set up a buffet-type taco bar complete with refried beans, taco meat, lettuce, sour cream, cheese, hot sauce, pico de gallo, guacamole an more. Give people the option of both hard shells and soft shells. Stock your bar with Mexican beer and liquor for authentic Mexican libations. Adding ambiance to your house or apartment is super easy with a few details such as a piñata, some string lights and, of course, Mexican music.

Have a Mexcian-Themed Pot Luck Night

You’re busy, so why do all the work when most people are more than happy to bring something to the fiesta? Host a Cinco de Mayo potluck at your home that will make all of your foodie friends believe that they have died and gone to a Latin American heaven. Pot lucks are low maintenance get-togethers because you only have to worry about one or two dishes and perhaps drinks. Pot lucks are also a great way to try new dishes. So, toast Mexican culture this Cinco de Mayo with some great home-made Mexican food and drinks.

Prepare a Margarita Bar, Including Light Hors d’oeuvres

Perhaps your “hump-day” amigos enjoy afternoon cocktails to break up the work week. In this case, get the blenders out and invite people over to your place with the focal point being a margarita bar. Don’t forget the cute mini umbrellas and sliced fruit to garnish your frozen drinks. If you need some inspiration on making creative margaritas, MargaritaTexas.com has everything you need to know about making margaritas, including some very unique recipes.  You can’t let your friends drink on an empty stomach, so make sure that you have plenty of Mexican-like hors d’oeuvres available.

Attend Happy Hour at a Latin Club

If you prefer not to have the Cinco de Mayo celebration at your house, outsource the fun with the professionals. There are plenty of local bars in your town that have Cinco de Mayo events –especially during happy hour when you and your colleagues get off work. Take your salsa shoes if you are going to a dance club and make sure that you have a designated driver or make plans to take a taxi home if you plan on taking advantage of the two-for-one sangria specials.

April Lentini writes for Apartment Guide in San Jose.

Posted via web from Apartment Living

Mother’s day is around the corner. For many women who have mother-in-laws, this can be a stressful and confusing holiday. While some married ladies are lucky enough to hit it off with their in-laws from get-go, many others find that they need to put a little effort into their in-law relationship. If you feel that your relationship with the mother-in-law could use some warming up, here are 10 tips to break the ice.

Image: dospaz (Flickr)

1. Plan some one-on-one time with your mother-in-law.

Sure, you are married to her son and she sees you (with the rest of the family) at holidays. But how well do you actually know each other? If you found this article by typing “mother-in-law” along with “break the ice” in a search engine, chances are you need help reaching out. If you live in the same town, why not initiate some time together – even if it is only for lunch or running some errands one weekend while your husband stays home or is out of town? Chances are, she will appreciate the simple suggestion: “Hey, want to do lunch on Saturday?”

2. Never mistake your mother-in-law’s taste with that of your own mother.

Never expect your mother-in-law to be similar to your own mom. Keep in mind that the mother/daughter things that you enjoy doing with your own mom may not necessarily work with your spouse’s mom. A day of shopping with lunch and a pedicure may, in your opinion, sound like the perfect recipe for bonding, but not if your mother-in-law hates that stuff.

3. Find out what your mother-in-law likes to do.

Ask your husband or just ask her yourself. If going to a Nascar race or football game is her idea of a fun time, score some tickets and surprise her for a day of sport watching. Don’t like sports? Well, just suck it up. This is about making an effort to bond with your mother-in-law, after all. Besides, you may be surprised that by opening yourself up to new experiences, you actually have a good time.

4. Correspond with her via email.

If your mother-in-law is really a tough nut to crack, you may want to begin softening your relationship by email correspondence. Sometimes email can be an easy way to open up discussion for those that have a tough time communicating. You have time to carefully reflect on your dialog rather than worrying about what will blurt out of your mouth (or hers) in person. Email her just to say hello, or use email to bring up more touchy subjects that require a certain degree of diplomacy.

5. Call her just to say hello.

Pick up the phone once a week and call just to say hello. Tell her what you and your hubby have been up to and ask her if she feels better from that cold she had last week. You can keep the conversation brief and unless she really hates you, she will undoubtedly appreciate your concern and sentiment.

6. Don’t tell her too much.

So, now that you have a dialog going, that does not mean that you have to tell her everything. In fact, keep sensitive details to yourself. She does not want to hear about your financial business, fights with her son or other personal affairs. If you need someone to lend an ear, save your baggage (if you must) for your closest girlfriends. Meanwhile, keep it positive with your mother-in-law. On the contrary, if you are particularly proud of your husband, be sure to tell her how great he is – even if she already knows.

7. Cook for her.

If your mother-in-law is like most women, the way to her heart is a good meal. Invite her over for brunch one day or cook her dinner. This takes the pressure off of eating out and wondering who pays. Plus, it’s a chance to show off your cooking skills – if you have any. If you are not the best cook, keep it simple or order in. The point is, she is invited over to your house for dinner.

8. Give her time alone with her son.

Sometimes mother-in-laws who are hard to warm up to are jealous of the time you are spending with their son. If your husband is a momma’s boy and you suspect that she may be jealous of the time you are spending together, give them some time alone. Mom may want some time to discuss important family issues with your husband or just want to enjoy a day of golf with their son like they used to do before you were in the picture.

9. Ask for help.

No daughter-in-law is perfect so do not try to pretend to be. The good news is most moms like to feel useful and help. This goes double for retired mother-in-laws. If she enjoys sewing, ask her if she wouldn’t mind making you something if you provide the materials. Of course if you have kids, she will most likely be happy to babysit occasionally.

10. Kill her with kindness.

If all else fails and you are really dealing with an ice-queen mother-in-law, just kill her with kindness. You know you can’t change people, but you can at least control how you deal with them. Simply don’t expect much from her in return. You can live easy knowing that you have done everything in your power to reach out and bond with her. Just be nice and deal with her in the nicest way you know how.

April Lenini writes for apartmenguide in Austin.

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Many college students have the luxury of avoiding practical thoughts of reality while living in an academic world that promises a successful future with each passing class that leads to a college degree. College is generally fun and for the most part, easy. However, it rarely prepares you for the real world. It is no surprise that so many college students sail through their college years choosing to be blissfully oblivious to the details of real life after college. If you are part of the college graduating class of 2010, you face some unique challenges.  Here is some advice for you. Consider it a cheat sheet for real life 101.

Image: Bredgur (Flickr)

Don’t be ashamed to move back in with mom and dad – for a while anyway

If you do not already have your own place with a steady income and a sound budget, it may be a smart idea to move back home until you get all that sorted out. Don’t be ashamed. You are not the only college graduate who will be moving back in with mom and dad. According to a recent poll by Collegegrad.com, 80 percent of 2009 college graduates moved back home with their parents after graduation, up from 77 percent in 2008, 73 percent in 2007 and 67 percent in 2006. Moving in with the parents is smart because it saves you lots of money while you figure out how you are going to afford to live on your own. Just be mindful that you are no longer living in the dorms and be respectful of the house rules. Offer to contribute to the household like an adult if you want to be treated like one.

Size up your expenses and debt – if you have any

Do your budget. If you have any student loans, you usually have a grace period of 6 months or so before you have to start paying money back. Even so, find out your your payment will be and factor that into your monthly living expenses. You may not be paying rent and utilities if you have chosen to move home, but gym memberships, credit cards, car payments, gas and other expenses still need to get paid.  You may have to eliminate some things from your freshly graduated, broke budget. Make it a priority to pay off any consumer debt and devise a plan to do this once you find a job.

Just get a job

This is of course the reason you attended college in the first place, right? Well, keep in mind your first job out of college may not be your dream job. According to Collegegrad.com’s Director of Marketing and PR, Adeola Ogunwole,t he competitive job market is only one dynamic getting in the way of college graduates’ gainful employment. The other big obstacle is unreasonable expectations. Consider your first job a starter job – something to keep you busy and help put a little cash your pocket while you work toward the ideal career. Don’t feel bad if you don’t even know what that ideal career is. You have plenty of time to figure that out and it will always change as you get more experience and figure out exactly what you do and don’t like about various industries. The average person changes careers several times in his or her lifetime (not jobs, careers). So you might as well get started and get the crappy jobs out of the way first.

Define your goals (short term and long term)

While you are working your way through your first entry-level job, you may feel a sense of disappointment. “Is this what I went to college for?” many college graduates wonder. Use this as a motivation to figure out what you really want to do with your life. Look on the bright side and make the best of the experience. Entry-level positions can teach you, by process of elimination, what you like and dislike about that job. Keep notes and put your career goals in writing. As you define your goals, let others know about them too. Your boss may help you move to a different department within the company or your parents may have friends that work in a field that you are curious about. If you have personal goals of getting married and starting a family, define, write down and imagine how your life would look with those aspects as well. It may seem corny, but these jedi mind tricks can be a powerful tool when it comes to going after and getting what you want.

Don’t be so hard on yourself

Very few college graduates get the life that they imagined for themselves immediately after graduating. It takes much more than a four year degree to acquire skills, maturity and experience. While it may not seem like it for a while, there is life after college. Be patient and enjoy the ride.

April Lentini writes for Apartment Guide in Austin.

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For most high school students, homecoming is the most important time of year. In fact, in most schools, activities for the entire year are merely a set up leading to the climax of this one important football game. Included among homecoming activities are crazy traditions. Here are some of the more unusual homecoming traditions across America.

Image: Comwiz (Flickr)

Homecoming Mums in Texas

Many students in Texas take homecoming mums just as serious as the homecoming game itself. A homecoming mum is an oversized corsage wildly decorated in school colors with anything from bows, bells, stuffed animals, long ribbons or streamers, and even lights. This southwest version of a corsage is so big it is worn around the neck as a breastplate with streamers flowing down the front of the body to the floor. When it comes to mums for homecoming, it seems the tackier, the better. Homecoming mums have been known to cost more than $200 and weigh more than 20 pounds. Traditionally given to girls by their boyfriends, mums are exchanged by boys and girls alike by family members or friends. Boys wear a smaller version of mums on their sleeve called homecoming garters.

The Speedo Dash

At Cupertino High School near San Jose, Calif., the boys water polo team shows off their half naked bodies -scantily clad in Speedos by making a dash out of the corner of the football stadium and running across the field during halftime.  That may not seem so bizarre, except that they do this at the moment the homecoming king and queen – all dressed up – are being crowned. Nonetheless, it is a popular homecoming tradition at Cupertino, with their much anticipated entrance being announced over the stadium PA and high school girls cheering wildly as they dash across the field.

Cross-dressing

In a small Texas school district, high schoolers from Spurger county celebrate TWIRP, which stands for “The Woman Is Requested to Pay.” During homecoming week, boys and girls have a chance to reverse social roles and let older girls invite boys on dates, open doors and pay for sodas (cougars in the making?) There is an additional twist. To add a dramatic visual to the conventional role change, this homecoming tradition encourages boys to dress like girls and vice versa (in other words – cross dressing.) This unusual tradition has been stopped by one parent’s complaint of “homosexual overtones.”

Weird Homecoming Mascots

Forget fierce and intimidating animal mascots, some high schools are so confident in their athletic teams, they transcend the cliché symbols of bravery, stamina and victory. Take the “The Laurel Hill Hoboes,” for example. This high school mascot is a basically a clown-type bum with a school letter t-shirt. A high school in Huntington Beach, California has “The Huntington Beach Oilers.” The mascot is a man in a hard hat, boots and a wrench standing in front of an oil leak. It is easy to imagine the students fighting each year over who is going to be the mascot in that homecoming parade. Centralia High School features “The Orphans” (for boys) and “The Annies” (for girls). New Berlin High School has a pretzel as their mascot.

April Lentini writes for Apartment Guide in Austin.

Posted via web from Apartment Living

Posted via web from Apartment Living

If you’re a mom, no matter what your budget or schedule, you deserve to be recognized on Mother’s Day.

Image: Ecohen (Flickr)

Single mothers of young children often have to initiate their own Mother’s Day celebration. If so, don’t feel guilty about taking some time to yourself for some pampering, fun or quality time with your kids to reflect about what being a mother means to you. Here are some ways that single moms like you can honor their supermom selves and celebrate Mother’s Day.

Time to Yourself

Being a mother is hard work. Sometimes you just need to get away. While it may seem ironic to want to get away from your kids on a day that honors your commitment to motherhood, it is not a bad idea. Remember, this is your day. Let a friend or grandparent take the kids while you take a few hours for yourself to have a pedicure, shop or go for a vigorous hike or another workout you enjoy. You may be surprised at how fast you can recharge your mom batteries with just a day – or even half a day – to yourself.

Time with Friends or Other Moms

If you need some girl time, ditching the kids to spend time with your adult friends may be just the thing for a Mother’s Day celebration, especially if your friends are also moms. Get someone to watch your children and join your fellow baby mamas out for brunch, a chick flick and maybe even some afternoon cocktails. It is important to reconnect with the friends that you had before you had kids. No one can lend an ear or make you laugh like a good girlfriend.

Time with Your Mom

Why not spend the day with your own mom, with or without the kids? If you get someone to watch the little ones, you can do all the things grown-up moms and daughters like to do, such as shopping and lunch, shopping and snacks or shopping and eating chocolate. If your mom doesn’t get to see her grand kids that often, you can include them on a Mother’s Day outing. Go to a park and pack a picnic. Let the kids wear themselves out on the playground while you and your mom sip mimosas and gossip. Or, go someplace cool, such as a museum exhibit or an aquarium.

Time with Your Kids

They are the reason you are being celebrated on this day. If you are like many busy working single mothers, you may not feel like you have enough quality time with your kids. Sure, you are constantly harping on them to do their homework, pick up their room and help with the dishes, but don’t forget that being a mom can actually be fun. Take some time to actually enjoy your kids by doing something fun together.

April Lentini writes for Apartment Guide in San Jose.

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Austin is known as the “Tex-Mex capital” of the United States, so if you happen to live there, you are in an ideal location to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. This year, Cinco de Mayo falls on a Wednesday. “Hump day” is the ideal day of the week for an after-hour cocktail. Here are just a few places in Austin that will be toasting Mexican culture on or around May 5 with drink specials, tasty food and other Mexican-themed goodies.

Image: Thetruthabout (flickr)

La Condesa
400 W 2nd St
Austin, TX 78701

Make sure you make a reservation on May 5. This hip, modern Mexican restaurant is popular on any night of the week, but Cinco de Mayo is especially busy. Conveniently located downtown, La Condesa offers a modern, eclectic atmosphere with contemporary Mexican dishes inspired by the hip, bohemian Condesa neighborhood of Mexico City. This is a good place to go if you are in the mood for posh dinner on Cinco de Mayo.

El Chile Café Y Cantina
1809 Manor Rd
Austin, TX 78722

Get there early to get a seat on the patio. El Chile Café Y Cantina serves up Tex-Mex food with rich, decadent sauces. Try the Oaxacan red mole that Critics rave about on El Chile’s roasted pork enchiladas. The smokey salsa is so good, they sell it by the jar. Happy hour is from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. You can get half price appetizers and $1 off all drinks.

El Taquito
1713 E Riverside Dr
Austin, TX 78741

No alcohol is served here, but that may not matter if you are in the mood for a good greasy spoon place to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. If that is the case, head down to El Taquito for some rather authentic greasy Mexican food. Beware, though, that this place caters to those who like the real deal – the kind of food you might find on the streets of Mexico City. There is no orange cheese here, and the tacos are made from corn tortillas – not flour or wheat. Ask for a jarisco drink or have a Mexican coke.

Fonda San Miguel
2330 W North Loop Blvd
Austin, TX 78756

On the classy end of Mexican restaurants in Austin, perhaps Fonda San Miguel takes the cake. The heavy doors and elaborate paintings on the wall will make you feel like you’ve been invited to a wealthy drug lord’s estate for dinner. Fonda San Miguel is a great place to impress a date for a Cinco de Mayo dinner. The hacienda style building is surrounded by great landscaping, mood lighting in the trees and you are greeted by valets as you pull up. The menu and drink selection are equally impressive. Make sure you make reservations.

Curra’s Grill
614 E Oltorf St
Austin, TX 78704

Curra’s Grill is a relaxed environment to grab some really good food and reasonably priced drinks. This place is very popular among locals, but it also has gained respect and notoriety in several restaurant reviews. It was voted “Best Interior Mexican Food” by the Austin Chronicle and “One of the Best Mexican Restaurants in Texas” by the Texas Monthly. Their hot sauce alone was voted “Best Red Sauce” in the 1998 Austin Hot Sauce Contest. Get there early to get one of the coveted patio seats.

April Lentini writes for Apartment Guide in Austin

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It’s Memorial Day weekend, and you are making plans for your famous annual barbeque. You pride yourself as a meat-grilling master Jedi, but just when you are ready to break out the recipe for your secret rub, you find out that there will be vegetarians present. What are you supposed to do to accommodate these oddballs? Don’t panic. You can still wow your meat-eating guests with your robust marinades while being a good host to vegetarians, too. Here are some simple ways to accommodate vegetarians at your Memorial Day barbeque.

Image: Basykes (Flickr)

Much to the carnivore’s surprise, accommodating vegetarians is pretty easy. Vegetarians are generally prepared when they attend a meat eater’s barbeque to fend for themselves anyway. Your vegetarian guests probably plan on bringing their own veggie burgers or fish (if they are pescatarians) to your barbeque. If you are the type of host that likes to be prepared and cater to everyone, here are some great meat alternatives for you to have on hand for the grill no matter what your barbeque style is. You may even be surprised to see your meat-eating friends enjoying these vegetarian options too.

If you are grilling hamburgers

If you are having a casual hamburger grill-out, you don’t need to go to great lengths for your vegetarian friends. Large portabella mushroom caps make a great hamburger alternative. Best of all, you can season them or marinate them in your own fabulous hamburger spices so your vegetarian friends can be equally impressed. Pescatarians will also appreciate a well-prepared, grilled salmon burger. Of course, you can always find frozen veggie burgers at your local grocery store if you don’t feel like preparing extra stuff. Keep in mind that veggie burgers and portabella mushroom caps do not need much time on the grill compared to the real hamburger patties you are cooking.

If you are grilling hot dogs

You can find vegetarian hot dogs at almost any major grocery store. They are also known as “veggie dogs” on the packaging. Vegetarian hot dogs, like most processed soy products, do not take long to cook on the grill. You can find a variety of vegetarian hot dogs including vegetarian bratwurst and even vegetarian Italian sausage. If you shop at Kroger or Publix, you will easily find these products in the refrigerated health food section. Keep in mind that you are not limited to these soy alternatives. Guest can fill up their hot dog buns “hoagie style “with a vegetarian stir-fry. Put some red peppers, onions, mushrooms, chopped-up tofu or tempeh in some aluminum foil on the grill. Topped off in the hot dog bun with sprouts and some good dressing, these will make a perfect meat alternative.

If you are grilling chicken or steak

Pescatarians love a good tuna steak or a flavorful salmon fillet. You can dress up a tuna steak or salmon fillet in the same glaze or marinade that you plan on using for your regular steaks. For strict vegetarians, you have some other options. Go to the health food section of your grocery store and look for the firmest tofu you can find. It may say “extra-firm” but if you see “firm as a brick,” get that one instead. You can also use tempeh, a tougher, grainier soy product. Slice the tofu or tempeh into flanks and marinate them in your secret sauce. Tofu takes on whatever flavor that you apply to it. Many recipes exist for creating the perfect tofu steak. Some involve mixing it with bread crumbs or cornmeal for the right consistency. Just remember that soy products take a fraction of the time to cook as your regular steaks.

If you are grilling shish kebabs

Vegetarians love shish kebabs. As long as you have plenty of veggies in your shish kebab lineup, you don’t need to do anything else. Don’t forget to include a variety of vegetables and even fruit. Pineapple, tomatoes, peppers and onions are great, but you can also include Japanese eggplant, mushrooms, potatoes, zucchini, squash and of course, marinated tofu or tempeh for added protein. Also, shrimp and scallops make a great seafood option for meat-eaters and pescatarians alike.

If you are grilling a whole pig on a spit

Please warn your vegetarian friends. They may decide to eat before they come to your house or they may decide to not come at all.

April Lentini writes for Apartment Guide in Austin.

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As a new parent, you know how fast your baby grows. Just when you get used to your baby’s feeding schedule and diaper changes, you realize you need to accommodate his or her ever-changing routine. As your baby grows older, take some precautions to make your apartment safe and secure for crawlers and toddlers.  Here is how you can baby-proof your apartment as your growing baby explores the world around him or her.

Image: Magerly(Flickr)

For the first three months, you may have not given much thought about how safe your entire apartment is for babies. They don’t really move much as you carry them back and forth to their cribs, playpens, car seats and strollers. But be prepared after four months to think about the nooks and crannies that your baby will be exposed to as soon as she starts to crawl.

Inspect from a baby’s eye-level

One of the best ways to see the potential household hazards to your baby is to crawl around your apartment floor. Dog bowls, nails, wires, dust and other small objects are some things that you may not even think about while standing upright, five or six feet above the ground. Babies have keen eyesight for small things up close. They will inspect things that you wouldn’t even notice if you were not looking for them. So, get down on all fours and remove anything from the floor that you would not want them putting in their mouths.

Remove or cover sharp edges

Furniture with sharp corners and clumsy babies learning to stand or walk are not a good combination.  You may want to exchange your square or rectangular coffee table with a round one or, better yet, just get rid of the coffee table so your baby has room to scoot about on the floor. If you absolutely cannot part with furniture, or sharp edges in your apartment are unavoidable, you can always buy safety guards to turn sharp corners into soft corners.  They are not very stylish, but you may as well face it: If you have a child, your apartment is probably not going to look stylish for the next several years.

Cover electrical outlets

Electrical outlets that are floor level should all have covers on them –unless they are being used, in which case they should be blocked from access to prevent your baby or toddler from playing with electrical plugs. Baby-safe outlet covers can be found on most online stores. One of the most popular outlet covers on the market is the sliding panel outlet cover. The cover automatically slides over the outlet when the plug is pulled out, protecting your baby from an exposed outlet.

Rearrange House Plants

What kid doesn’t love to play in the dirt? A potted plant is the perfect playground for babies and toddlers, so say goodbye to any house plants that are on the floor or within reach to a small gardener prodigy. If the weather is warm enough, put them outside or find another location for them, such as hanging them from the ceiling.

Install baby locks for cabinets

Kitchens are the most dangerous place in the house –especially for babies. No baby should be roaming around on the kitchen floor unattended, but even if you are keeping a close watch on your child, it is wise to secure your bottom kitchen cabinets with baby-proof locks. Accidents happen so fast, and the last thing you want is for your child to get into cleaning chemicals under the sink or cut himself on a sharp appliance.

Keep bathroom doors closed

Does your dog drink out of the toilet bowl? What about your baby? Bathrooms are the second-most dangerous place (after kitchens) for a baby or toddler to explore. Medicine cabinets, showers, tubs, faucets and chemicals are not baby-friendly. The best way to keep your baby safe from the bathroom is to get in the habit of closing the bathroom door – always.

Invest in a baby gate

In areas that do not have a door, the best investment you can make in your home is a baby gate. The safest baby gates are the plastic ones with solid panels. It’s best to avoid the kind with fancy bars, as babies can get their hands stuck or even heads stuck in between the rails. Accordion-style baby gates are not even made anymore, but if you happen to come across one, don’t even think about using it. They are very dangerous and can pinch or even strangle your baby.

By putting yourself in the mind of a curious baby, you can get ahead of the game and create a baby-safe apartment before your child has a chance to get hurt or injured.

April Lentini writes for Apartment Guide in San Jose.

Posted via web from Apartment Living

One of the most exciting things about expecting a baby is getting the nursery ready. When first-time parents start acquiring baby furniture and anticipating their baby’s every need, it makes the reality of having a baby more concrete and believable. The main mistake that many first-time parents make however, is believing that they need to buy every baby product advertised.  Before you go crazy buying a retail package of nursery furniture and decorations, consider the long term use and value. Here are some practical (and affordable) nursery ideas for your apartment that could last you well beyond the baby years.

Image: Jelene (Flickr)

The Crib

According to consumer reports, it’s never a good idea to get a hand-me-down, used crib. Older cribs are often recalled for safety reasons and besides, doesn’t this brand new baby person deserve to sleep in a brand new bed? But that doesn’t mean that you need to go out and buy an expensive, trendy baby crib such as the round baby cribs that have been made popular by many celebrities. Cool, yes. Practical, not at all. The most practical cribs are the ones that convert into a toddler bed and even a twin bed when your child gets older. You’ll get more bang for your buck if you think ahead and get something that can be used for a longer amount of time.

Wall Decorations

Before you start painting an elaborate mural of Noah’s Ark in your nursery, think about how old and dated it will look by the time our child is 3. Baby experts recommend using bright colors for developing eyes. One easy and fun way to achieve this is to get some blank canvases and paint. If you are creatively inclined, you can paint your own colorful artwork on a few canvases. If you are not confident in your artistic abilities, you can always find some colorful fabric and staple it to the canvas. This creates a sort of wall paper / paint illusion without having to permanently alter the walls.

The Changing Table

Changing tables can be the most over-rated pieces of baby furniture ever. If you are looking for practicality, use a bookcase, small desk or dresser that is waist-high and throw a changing pad on it. That way, you do not have to sell the changing table when your baby is potty trained and you can repurpose the furniture as a bookcase, small desk or dresser. Voila, that is one less thing that you need to buy as your child transitions from “baby room” to “child’s room”.

The Rocking Chair

While it may seem a little “old school”, you will find a comfortable rocker comes in handy when you are putting your baby to sleep or feeding your baby in the middle of the night. Babies are comforted by slight movement because they are accustomed to it from being in the mother’s womb. The rocking motion mimics the familiar motion of the mother’s body when she walked and moved around. Having a rocking chair in the nursery will undoubtedly be practical and can be used later for seating on the front porch, sun room or backyard patio.

Nursery Themes

Many excited parents are determined to stick to one theme and go all out decorating the nursery with frogs, princesses or teddy bears. This obsessive tendency to theme a nursery can become expensive and is not really practical at all. Remember, your little baby is soon going to have an opinion of his own, and before you know it, you will be re-doing the walls with posters of Thomas the Train, Dora the Explorer or whatever Junior deems appropriate for his own room. As long as you are prepared to part with the elf motif that you labored over before the baby was born, that is fine. If not, keep it bright, fun and simple.

April Lentini writes for Apartment Guide in Austin

Posted via web from Apartment Living